Isaiah 49:16
“Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands;
Your walls are continually before Me.
If you have ever written a note, phone number, person's name or class assignment on your hand you might be familiar with what God is saying through His servant Isaiah in the above verse. The servant and the nation are in a hypothetical discussion about God's care and watchfulness over the disobedient nation. Remember, Isaiah has told them they are going to be disciplined and taken into captivity. Jeremiah and a few other prophets will say the same thing. The nation had every right to be fearful and nervous. However, as Psalm 23 tells us, BOTH His ROD and His staff are a comfort to us ... or, should be. Just prior to this statement God had asked the nation if a mother can forget her children? Yet, the response might be, in an evil home, YES!! So, God agrees and says that even though an evil mother might forget and forsake her children, God will never forget or forsake them. In fact, He says, I have "inscribed you in the palms of MY hands; Your walls (the city walls of Jerusalem) are continually before Me." God may be alluding here to the practice the nation had that as they went into captivity they would draw (think tattoo) the outline of their city, so they didn't forget its appearance. What God is saying is that "you are precious to Me, I WILL NOT forget you." Jesus would say later that we are in the "palm of the Father's hand and no one can pluck us out (John 10:27)." We are that precious to God. He has us in His hand and on His hand and through Jesus, redeemed through His hands. What a great verse to meditate upon, even if we are being disciplined by Him. Even if we can't see Him. We can always look down on our palm and see the number, name or assignment we were suppose to remember. Today, write Isaiah 49:16 on the palm of your hand. When someone ask you what it means, tell them that is what God did with your name.
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